Carnation plant named ‘Hilpas’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Carnation plant named ‘Hilpas’, characterized by its upright, somewhat outwardly spreading and uniformly mounded plant habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; large dark purple-colored double flowers that are positioned above and beyond the foliar plane on strong peduncles; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Dianthus caryophyllus.

Cultivar denomination: ‘HILPAS’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofCarnation plant, botanically known as Dianthus caryophyllus, growncommercially as a potted and garden plant and hereinafter referred to bythe name ‘Hilpas’.

The new Carnation plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in De Kwakel, The Netherlands. The objectiveof the breeding program is to create new potted Carnation plants thathave uniform plant habit and numerous unique and attractive flowers.

The new Carnation plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in De Kwakel, The Netherlands in May, 2008 of a proprietaryselection of Dianthus caryophyllus identified as code number A 4121, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection ofDianthus caryophyllus identified as code number A 4216, not patented, asthe male, or pollen, parent. The new Carnation plant was discovered andselected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within theprogeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouseenvironment in De Kwakel, The Netherlands in July, 2009.

Asexual reproduction of the new Carnation plant by terminal cuttingspropagated in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Kwakel, TheNetherlands since 2009 has shown that the unique features of this newCarnation plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Carnation have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may varysomewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperatureand light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Hilpas’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Hilpas’ as a new and distinct Carnation plant:

-   -   1. Upright, somewhat outwardly spreading and uniformly mounded        plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit.    -   3. Freely flowering habit.    -   4. Large dark purple-colored double flowers that are positioned        above and beyond the foliar plane on strong peduncles.    -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Carnation differ from plants of the female parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Carnation have shorter branches than plants        of the female parent selection.    -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Carnation are more green in color        than leaves of plants of the female parent selection.    -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Carnation are smaller and        slightly darker in color than flowers of plants of the female        parent selection.

Plants of the new Carnation differ from plants of the male parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Carnation are more vigorous than plants of        the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Carnation are more freely flowering than        plants of the male parent selection.    -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Carnation are larger than        flowers of plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Carnation can be compared to plants of Dianthuscaryophyllus ‘Faganza’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,757. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in De Kwakel, The Netherlands, plantsof the new Carnation differed from plants of ‘Faganza’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Carnation were more vigorous than plants of        ‘Faganza’.    -   2. Plants of the new Carnation had larger flowers than plants of        ‘Faganza’.    -   3. Plants of the new Carnation and ‘Faganza’ differed in flower        color as plants of ‘Faganza’ had lighter purple-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates the overall appearance of thenew Carnation plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Carnation plant.

The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical floweringplant of ‘Hilpas’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photograph and following observationsand measurements describe plants grown during the late winter and earlyspring in 12-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in De Kwakel,The Netherlands and under cultural practices which approximate thosegenerally used in commercial potted Carnation production. During theproduction of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 12° C. andlight levels averaged 7,000 lux. Plants were pinched one time five weeksafter planting. Plants used for the description were 20 weeks old andplants used for the photograph were 25 weeks old. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Dianthus caryophyllus ‘Hilpas’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Dianthus            caryophyllus identified as code number A 4121, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Dianthus            caryophyllus identified as code number A 4216, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About six days at 20° C. to            25° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About eight days at 18° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks at 20° C. to 25° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About five            weeks at 18° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white in            color.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderate branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant type and form.—Herbaceous perennial; upright, somewhat            outwardly spreading and uniformly mounded plant habit; broad            inverted triangle.        -   Branching habit.—Freely-branching growth habit; when            pinched, about seven basal branches develop; dense and bushy            growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 15.2 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 18.4 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 10 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Internode length: About 2.4 cm. Strength: Strong. Texture:            Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 137B.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Opposite, simple; sessile.            Length: About 8.3 cm. Width: About 9 mm. Shape: Narrowly            oblanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate, decurrent.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Venation pattern: Parallel. Color: Developing            leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 143C; towards the            base, close to 144B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface:            Close to N137C; venation, close to 137B. Fully expanded            leaves, lower surface: Close to 137B to 137C; venation,            close to 144A.        -   Flower description.—Flower type and habit: Rotate double            flowers usually arranged in terminal sprays; freely            flowering habit with typically about 65 flowers developing            per plant; flowers positioned above and beyond the foliar            plane on strong peduncles; flowers face mostly upright.            Fragrance: Flowers faintly fragrant; sweet, clove-like.            Natural flowering season: Flowering is continuous through            the summer and late summer in The Netherlands; plants begin            flowering about 13 weeks after planting. Flower longevity:            Flowers last about ten days on the plant; flowers not            persistent. Spray height: About 7.9 cm. Spray diameter:            About 7.3 cm. Flower diameter: About 4.8 cm. Flower depth:            About 3.5 cm. Flower buds: Length: About 1.8 cm. Diameter:            About 1 cm. Shape: Obovate. Color: Close to 143A; apex            tinged with close to N186C; towards the base, close to 144B.            Petals and petaloids: Quantity and arrangement: About 25            petals per flower arranged in the outer whorls and about ten            petaloids (transformed stamens) per flower in the inner            whorls. Length, petals: About 3.5 cm. Width, petals: About            2.4 cm. Length, petaloids: About 2.8 cm. Width, petaloids:            About 1.2 cm. Shape, petals: Spatulate. Shape, petaloids:            Irregularly narrow spatulate. Apex, petals and petaloids:            Praemorse. Base, petals and petaloids: Acute. Margin, petals            and petaloids: Entire. Texture, petals and petaloids, upper            and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color, petals            and petaloids: When opening, upper surface: Between 59A and            187B; towards the base, close to N79C; base, close to 145C            to 145D. When opening, lower surface: Close to N79C; towards            the margins, darker than N79C; base, close to 145C to 145D.            Fully opened, upper surface: Between N78A and N79C; base,            close to 145C to 145D; color does not change with            development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to N78A to            N78C; base, close to 145C to 145D.        -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five in a single whorl;            proximal 72.5% of the sepals are fused. Length: About            1.8 cm. Width: About 6 mm. Shape: Oblong. Apex: Broadly            acute. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening and fully opened,            upper surface: Close to 147D; margins tinged with close to            187B. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to            143A; apex tinged with close to N186C; base, close to 144B.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 4.7 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect to about 20° from vertical.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 137A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: None observed. Pistils:            Quantity: About two per flower. Pistil length: About 2.1 cm.            Stigma shape: Pointed; curved. Stigma color: Close to N79B            to N79C. Style length: About 1.8 cm. Style color: Towards            the apex, close to N80A to N80B; towards the base, close to            NN155D. Ovary color: Close to N144D. Fruits and seeds: Fruit            and seed development have not been observed on plants of the            new Carnation.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Carnation have not been    observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Carnation    plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Carnation have been observed    to have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain and    temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to 35° C. and to be hardy to    USDA Hardiness Zone 9.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Carnation plant named ‘Hilpas’ asillustrated and described.